Full-Day Cruise to Upsala, Spegazzini & Moreno Glaciers– MarPatag

Glaciers make a grand first impression. MarPatag’s full-day cruise from El Calafate links three major sights on Lake Argentino, with floating icebergs, steep mountain walls, waterfalls, and close views of Spegazzini and Perito Moreno glaciers. I like the well-organized transport and boat service, and I like that the day includes both time on the water and access to the Perito Moreno walkways.

The main drawback is cost. The advertised price is $345 per person, but the national park admission, lunch, and optional walkway transfer cost extra. You should also expect a commercial side to the outing, with food, drinks, photographs, and shopping opportunities onboard.

Key points to know before booking

• Three major glacier areas in one day: You see Upsala icebergs, Spegazzini Glacier, and Perito Moreno Glacier.
• A long but efficient schedule: The experience takes about 10 hours, including hotel pickup, sailing, and the return bus.
• Perito Moreno includes two viewing styles: You see the glacier from the water, then spend about 90 minutes at its balconies and trails.
• The $345 price is not the final total: Add ARS 45,000 for national park admission, plus lunch and the optional walkway transfer.
• A large shared group: The boat can carry up to 200 people, so this is not an intimate private cruise.
• Book the walkway option early: The optional Puerto Moreno disembarkation must be selected when you purchase the tour.

Setting out from El Calafate at 7:00 a.m.

This is a full day, and the early start matters. The listed start time is 7:00 a.m., while hotel pickup begins at about 7:30 a.m. Pickup is offered from selected hotels in El Calafate, and the shared route can take up to 30 minutes depending on where your hotel sits in the schedule.

You should wait in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before the assigned pickup time. If you stay in an Airbnb or private address, the operator will arrange a nearby meeting point after booking. The exact pickup place and time are confirmed once the reservation is processed.

The bus takes you to Puerto Bandera, where the boat begins its navigation of Lake Argentino. Transfers to and from the port are included, which is important in El Calafate. Booking a separate taxi for such an early departure would add both cost and hassle.

The boat can accommodate up to 200 people. That gives you a stable, organized way to reach remote glacier viewpoints, but it also means this is a shared excursion rather than a quiet, small-group outing. If you want personal attention throughout the day, this format may feel busy.

Upsala Glacier begins with icebergs, not a close-up

The first major section takes you through the North Arm of Lake Argentino toward the Upsala Glacier area. The glacier front is now far away because of natural retreat, so the experience is not about sailing right up to a wall of ice.

Instead, the icebergs are the main event. Large pieces of blue and white ice float across the lake, sometimes appearing surprisingly close to the boat. You get broad views of the water and the distant glacier, with the floating ice providing the scale and drama.

This is a useful point to set expectations. If your dream is a very close glacier face from the ship, Upsala may feel less satisfying than Spegazzini or Perito Moreno. If you enjoy the changing shapes of the ice and the sense of traveling through a huge glacial lake, this first hour gives the day a strong opening.

The boat offers wide views, but the weather can shape how much you see. The excursion requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a date change or a full refund. Bring clothing suitable for a cold, exposed boat ride, though the supplied details do not specify a required clothing list.

Spegazzini Channel brings the closest glacier view

The cruise continues through the Spegazzini Channel, where the setting becomes tighter and more dramatic. Steep cliffs rise around the water, and waterfalls run down the rock faces. The channel itself is part of the reward, since the route gives you changing views as the boat moves toward the glacier.

Spegazzini Glacier is described as the tallest glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, reaching about 135 meters in height. The ship approaches its ice wall for an extended viewing period, allowing you to see the glacier’s deep blue tones and the cracks in the ice.

You should have about two hours in the Spegazzini section. That is enough time to look from different parts of the boat, take photographs, and wait for the glacier to reveal its details as the ship shifts position.

I especially like the contrast between the broad, open water around Upsala and the enclosed channel at Spegazzini. The first stop gives you icebergs scattered across the lake. The second makes the cliffs, waterfalls, and towering ice wall feel more immediate.

Still, this is a viewing cruise. You do not walk on Spegazzini Glacier, and the ship’s exact position depends on conditions. The attraction is the scale of the glacier front and the route through the channel, not an active ice excursion.

Canal de los Témpanos leads to Perito Moreno

The next sailing section follows the Icebergs Channel, or Canal de los Témpanos, toward the north face of Perito Moreno Glacier. Turquoise water and floating icebergs frame the approach.

Perito Moreno is one of the most famous glaciers in the area, known for its relative stability and its frequent ice calving. When a block breaks from the glacier and crashes into the lake, the sound can carry across the water. The boat slows near the front, giving you time for photographs and a full view of the glacier wall.

The water approach is valuable because it shows the glacier from a low, broad angle. You can see the size of the ice front in relation to the boat and the surrounding water. On land, the walkways offer a different perspective, but from the ship you get a clear sense of the glacier meeting the lake.

The sailing portion around Perito Moreno lasts about two hours. After that, you can disembark at Puerto Moreno and transfer to the viewing walkways. This optional portion must be booked when you buy the cruise. It cannot be added later once the reservation is confirmed.

Ninety minutes on the Perito Moreno walkways

The walkways are the strongest part of the day for anyone who wants time on land. You get about one hour and 30 minutes to explore different balconies and trails overlooking Perito Moreno Glacier.

That time is not generous, but it gives you a chance to move between viewpoints rather than simply step off a bus, take one photograph, and leave. The paths let you see the glacier from different angles, while the ship provides the water-level view earlier in the day.

The optional disembarkation costs $85 per person. It is a significant extra charge, but I think it is worthwhile if this is your only visit to Perito Moreno. The cruise alone shows you the glacier from the water. The walkways let you spend time looking across the ice face from land, which makes the stop feel more complete.

After the walkway visit, you return to El Calafate by bus. The activity ends back at the meeting point. Since this is a long day with an early start, the return journey is part of the total fatigue you should plan for.

What the $345 price really covers

At $345 per person, this is an expensive day trip. The price pays for the Lake Argentino navigation and the transfers between El Calafate, Puerto Bandera, and the glacier area. It also gives you one day of access to several remote sights that would be difficult to combine independently.

But you need to budget beyond the headline price. The listed extras are:

• National park admission: ARS 45,000 per person
• Optional box lunch: $45 per person
• Optional access to the Perito Moreno walkways: $85 per person

The park fee is mandatory according to the supplied cost details, while lunch and the walkway service are optional. Since the total can rise quickly, check the exchange rate and current local charges before you commit.

The value depends on your priorities. If you want to see Upsala, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno in one long day, the cruise is an efficient choice. If you mainly want Perito Moreno, a shorter land-based visit may offer better value and more time at the walkways.

The boat experience also includes commercial activity. You might encounter onboard food and drink sales, a restaurant, a gift shop, and photographers offering photo packages. One account also described paid drinks served with ice taken from an iceberg. None of these extras are necessary to enjoy the scenery, but you should know they may be part of the day.

That commercial tone will bother some people. Others may simply treat it as background and spend their time outside with the camera. I would not book this tour expecting a quiet, purely educational expedition.

Food, seating, and the feel of a large cruise

A box lunch is optional at $45. The supplied details do not describe the menu, so I would not assume it meets your dietary needs without checking before booking.

The boat also has food and drink services, according to the available account of the experience. There may be premium package features such as more food and drink or access to an upper deck, but those details are not included in the basic tour information. Confirm exactly what your fare includes before paying for an upgrade.

With a maximum of 200 people, you will need to be practical about viewing space. Move around when safe and permitted, rather than waiting until the last minute to find a good angle. The glacier views are the reason to take the cruise, so keep your time and money focused on the included navigation rather than optional purchases.

The shared format has a benefit: the transport and boat operation are handled for you. The excursion received strong praise for punctuality, clean transport, boat condition, and overall organization. That is especially useful on a day when several transfers and timed sailing sections must fit together.

The downside is that a large boat can feel less personal. The experience is more like a carefully timed sightseeing cruise than a small expedition with extended conversation and individual guidance.

English service and basic booking details

The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is received at booking. Most people can participate, according to the supplied information. The operator also asks for passport images showing a minor’s birth date when applying child discounts.

You need to choose the Perito Moreno walkway option at the time of purchase. This is the most important booking detail because it cannot be added later. If you know you want to visit the balconies, make that decision before the reservation is confirmed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour period are not accepted for a refund. The local start time controls the deadline.

The cruise also depends on good weather and a minimum number of bookings. If poor weather or low enrollment cancels the trip, you can receive a different date or experience, or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this glacier cruise?

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a broad introduction to Lake Argentino and prefer to see several major glacier areas in one day. It suits people who value organized transport, a fixed schedule, and the chance to combine boat views with the Perito Moreno walkways.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in El Calafate for a short time. Rather than choosing between Upsala, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno, you can see all three in one substantial outing.

You may want another plan if your main goal is a slow, quiet encounter with one glacier. The large shared boat, sales activity, and extra charges may not suit you. You should also think carefully about the $345 base cost, particularly once the park fee and walkway option are added.

The strongest parts are the glacier variety, reliable transport, and the contrast between open-water icebergs, the steep Spegazzini Channel, and the Perito Moreno viewing platforms. The weak points are the price, long day, and commercial feel.

Should you book MarPatag’s full-day glacier cruise?

Book it if you want the most varied Lake Argentino day available in this format and you are comfortable paying for convenience. Select the walkway option at checkout, bring your own food if you do not want the $45 lunch, and treat the onboard shopping and photo offers as optional distractions.

Skip it if you only want Perito Moreno or if you dislike large cruise groups and sales pitches. For the right person, this is a well-run way to cover three impressive glacier settings in one day. Just budget honestly and know that the headline price is only the starting point.

FAQ

How long does the glacier cruise last?

The full experience lasts about 10 hours, including pickup, sailing, the Perito Moreno walkway visit if selected, and the return bus to El Calafate.

Where does hotel pickup take place?

Pickup is offered from selected accommodations in El Calafate. The route begins around 7:30 a.m., and you should wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the assigned time.

What glaciers and sights are included?

The cruise includes the Upsala Glacier area and its floating icebergs, Spegazzini Glacier and Channel, the Icebergs Channel, and the north face of Perito Moreno Glacier.

Is national park admission included?

No. National park admission is listed separately at ARS 45,000 per person.

Can I visit the Perito Moreno walkways?

Yes, but the optional Puerto Moreno disembarkation and walkway access must be booked at the same time as the tour. It costs $85 per person and cannot be added after the reservation is confirmed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.